Behind the Nordic genre boom: “People have woken up to the international demand for this content”

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by Jacob Solomon May 20, 2023 News
Behind the Nordic genre boom: “People have woken up to the international demand for this content”

'The Twin'

A further 33 countries are set to release the film, which has racked up nearly a million admissions around the world.

The producer of Lake Bodom, who had a previous genre hit with the film, says that it was the most watched film in the world. The theatrical release of The Twin, directed by Taneli Mustonen and starring Teresa Palmer, took place in North America with a day-and-date streaming premiere with Shudder.

Sisu, a Nordic film about a Nazi-killing gold prospector, opened in the US on 1,006 screens, making it the widest US launch for a Nordic film ever.

The world has woken up to the fact that Nordic genre films are popular. The emergence of a bird-like creature in Hatching, a half sheep/half human child in Lamb, and the stoning to death of a married couple in Speak No Evil are some of the images that have been burning into the minds of global audiences.

Speak No Evil, Hatching, The Twin, Nightmare and Sisu have all traveled well internationally in the past 18 months. The films are not just playing at genre festivals. Speak No Evil, Sisu at Toronto, and Lamb were all launched in the next four years.

REinvent sells prestige dramas, such as Together 99 by Lukas Moodysson, but also has a genre label called REinvent Chills. The Angel Maker is one of the genre films REinvent adds to it's slate.

According to Aur, Nordic thrillers have strong sales appeal. She says that a lot of buyers have slots for them. It is a great way to reach a younger audience.

Funders take note 

For the past 15 years people have woken up to the international demand for this content thanks to initiatives such as the Nordic Genre boost. You hope this will lead to bigger players and public financiers taking genre more seriously. For Iron Sky and Dead Snow, we said it. It feels like we have at least some proof these films work.

The international hit this year was made by a Norwegian writer and director. It was almost impossible to get support for genre films a decade ago. The film institute in Sweden is incorporating more genres.

The new genre films can mix suspense, horror, and psychology. New cinematic expressions are coming through in the applications we get.

The genre includes thrillers such as Darkland: The Return and sci-fi stories such as Super­position. The North Sea, The Wave, and the forthcoming Convoy are disasters that have made a name for Norway.

Cold is a film directed by Erlingur Thoroddsen and he describes it as a "thriller with some horror elements". The public funders are more aware of the genre landscape. He says there is enough quality in horror films and genre films that you don't have to look at them as black sheep.

Christian Tafdrup, the producer of Speak No Evil, was also the producer of Ali Abbasi's debut horror feature, "Shelley." The film is currently being re-released in the US. Jarek says getting traction for genre films is about the story and the director. It has to come from an interesting place.

He says that Speak No Evil has some dark moments, but because it is a genre there is a sense of escapism to it. It isn't a dark drama. It's possible to make a genre film more adventurous.

Pesta, an animated folk horror, will be pitched by Norway's Hanne Berkaak. She believes that the international attention on Nordic genre films can be traced back to a longstanding fascination with the north as a realm of the supernatural. The perfect backdrop for horror, mystery and murder can be found in the vast, barren landscape.

Pesta is set during the Black Plague and takes its title from a witch-like creature.

She hopes to shoot her next feature in the summer of 2024. She says that she is exploring the ancestors of the Vikings in the film.

The genre is the perfect place for filmmakers to explore important themes, like she did with women in modern society in Nightmare and the upcoming feature. She says she tries to incorporate her ideas about being a young female. You can go further in a genre film than you can in a drama.

'Pesta'

It's called dirs. A cybercrime detective is looking for a serial killer. A market screening is being held in France. Reinvent is a contact for Helene Aur.

Carousel (Swe)

The person is the dir. There is a buzzy young cast that plays high-school friends trying to survive an overnight visit to an amusement park. Trust Nordisk's contact isNicolai Korsgaard.

Cold (Ice)

The person is the dir. The story about an investigation into deaths at a juvenile home is adapted from a book. LevelK's contact is Deborah Liang.

Handling The Undead (Nor)

The person is the dir. John Ajvide Lindqvist's story was adapted by Thea Hvistendahl. In reply. Trust Nordisk's contact isNicolai Korsgaard.

Hunters (Swe)

The person is the dir. Three men go hunting in the Swedish woods and things go wrong. LevelK's contact is Deborah Liang.

Nightborn (Fin)

The person is the dir. The director and writer are working on a dark horror fantasy about a couple struggling with new parenthood Noémie Devide is the person to contact.

Pesta (Nor)

The person is the dir. Four teenagers are fighting for their lives during the Black Plague. Lise Fearnley is the contact person for Mikrofilm.

Red Snow (Fin)

The person is the dir. The film is about a vampire Santa Claus and a goth teenager. Red Snow is a movie written by Ilja Rautsi. Mark Lwoff is reachable.

Stranger (Den-Nor)

The person is the dir. The stone-age action drama is to be directed by Mads Hedegaard and will feature two actresses. Filming is going to start in July. Reinvent is a contact for Helene Aur.